Male Breast Reduction

Summertime in Austin and hanging out at the pool go together like mesquite wood and barbecuing. But when you’re a guy and you have enlarged breasts, taking your shirt off at the pool or anywhere around other people could be the last thing you want to do because you’re self-conscious about your breasts. Most people assume the larger breasts are merely due to weight gain. But in half the cases that’s not right — these men have a condition known as male breast enlargement, clinically termed gynecomastia.It’s a condition that can impact a man’s self-esteem.

Dr. Carlotti can address the condition with a relatively simple surgical procedure called male breast reduction.

Why do some men have gynecomastia?

In teenagers, gynecomastia is more the norm than not. This isn’t well known, but up to 70 percent of adolescent/pubescent boys have enlarged breasts to some degree. This is caused by rampaging testosterone and estrogen levels. As these levels fluctuate wildly during puberty, so can breast size and other issues that are linked to hormone levels such as facial hair. As teenagers exit puberty, their breasts usually return to normal.

The cause of gynecomastia in adults isn’t fully understood. Middle-aged and older men can also develop enlarged breasts due to hormone changes that come with aging. But more often gynecomastia comes from taking certain medications. These are the medications known to have a link to gynecomastia:

Antibiotics

Heartburn treatment drugs

Anti-anxiety drugs

Steroids

Tricyclic antidepressants

AIDS treatment drugs

Heavy drinking and smoking marijuana can also lead to gynecomastia.

Breast reduction surgery

Men with gynecomastia have a firm, rubbery mass underneath the nipple area. The size of this mass is around 1.5 inches across, and it may be sensitive to the touch.

If surgery is required, small incisions are made around the areolae. Through these incisions, running from about 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock, the rubbery, glandular breast tissue is removed, and the surgical access sites are closed with deep sutures and a very thin micro-stitch. Recovery is not overly painful or difficult.

If you’re self-conscious about your enlarged breasts, it’s not something you have to live with. Contact us at Austin Cosmetic Surgery in our Austin (512) 688-8000 or Scottsdale (480) 947-7700 offices to schedule a consultation.